We are experiencing a crisis.
That seems like a “no kidding!” thing to say in the times in which we live.
We are still recovering physically and economically from a global pandemic.
We are in the middle of impossible political discourse.
The list of stressors in life seems long these days.
Crisis is nothing new for our guests. The difference that I hope you will consider is the magnitude of the lack of shelter for families with children in our county.
The number of people experiencing homelessness has grown. That is true for men, it is true for women and for the first time in our 15 years of offering shelter it is true for families with children.
WE NEED MORE HOST CONGREGATIONS! Become a Host
Our summer season has been dedicated to only families almost every night. There were far too many dates that we had no host at all for nights at a time.
Hearing the stories of where shelter was found on those nights from the mouths of children was frightening. What was most difficult about that for me was knowing that the only safe nights of shelter came when they went to a host congregation for the night.
I recently said in an interview “it isn’t rocket science, it’s hospitality.” I said it as part of a conversation about our Congregational Shelter program and honestly didn’t expect that to be the phrase that would make in into an article. I tried to say so many eloquent statements about our work. When I read it in print, I realized once again that all of the ways I describe what we do when we welcome guests really does boil down to simple hospitality that becomes a respite in the complicated lives of our guests.
The model of using our empty worship and service spaces makes it possible to end the crisis. I’m not saying it will end homelessness, but it will end the threat of children sleeping outside at night and trying to get to school the next morning. It will end the threat of women taking turns sleeping in groups so that they are not attacked while they rest. It will end the inevitable death due to sleeping out in the freezing cold. It will end your congregation’s questions of,
“What can we do to make a difference?”
If you are not hosting and asking that question let us help you make a life-saving, life-changing difference. If you are a host already and not hosting to your capacity, please consider adding at least one more night of shelter each month. It truly makes a difference. It changes all of us for the better, we are all part of the crisis, let’s all be part of the solution!
Peace,
Rev. Lisa Anderson
Executive Director
Room in the Inn – Memphis
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